The Study On Independence Of Zhuang Zi Thoughts

Since the Han Dynasty, Zhuang Doctrine has been attributable to the Taoism. As the representatives of Taoism, Lao Zi and Zhunag Zi as a whole has been a fixed cognitive model. But if we analyze and compare the texts of Zhuang Zi, Seven Articles of Nei Section and Loa Zi, we can see that Zhuang Doctrine and Lao Doctrine have significant differences in the tenet and aim in spite of some similarities in the ways of argumentation. To judge a thought's nature and attribution, if its tenet and aim is considered more important than its ways of argumentation, then Zhuang Doctrine is indeed an independent ideological system."Tao"is seen as the key point if Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi are considered as a whole. As one of the core concepts in both Lao and Zhuang doctrine, there are differences as well as similarities in the understanding of"Tao"in the two thoughts. The same point is their understanding of"Nature". They both think Nature is the origin of everything on earth and the most primary Tao. They also have reached agreement on Nature in terms of its real existence, origin and nature, which is their common starting point. The difference lies in their understanding of"man". When the metaphysical Tao befalls man, Tao of Lao finally becomes a kind of law and principle while Tao of Zhuang embodies a spiritual realm. This is their distinctness: although standing on the same starting point each goes its own way. Lao Zi hunts for the law of nature rationally to rule the social order on earth, but Zhuagn Zi feels his spiritual realm of Tao by intuition to arrange for individual spiritual life. It is clear that their Tao is quite different.The distinctness in Tao of Lao and Zhuang must result in the difference in the nature of their doctrines. Lao Doctrine deduces the rule of human from the law of nature, which is used as the creed and basis of the ruler's administration. Lao ultimately directs at governing the world by inaction and in fact it is a social and political doctrine. In contrast, Zhuang Doctrine abstracts the spiritual realm of man and nature being one from Tao of Nature, which is considered as individual life's dwelling place. It goes without saying that Zhuang is in fact an individual life doctrine. Zhuang Zi's mentality hovers in the heaven of spiritual realm, free from the hardship in real life while Lao Zi, in the hope of saving the world, instructs the rulers earnestly and tirelessly to govern their kingdom without action and predicts confidently the dreaming world of doing anything without action.Lao Zi consistently takes the natural law as the principle to rule humanity's social order, and Confucius also aims at humanity's social order. But unlike Lao Zi, Confucius doesn't strive to seek it in the Way of Heaven in chaotic society. If we compare Lao Doctrine with Confucianism, the former rules the social order by the weak do-nothing natural principle, while the latter searches for humans'characteristic to rule the heart and society by sensibilities and human relations. Their difference only lies in the mode and method. The aim is same. But Zhuang Doctrine and Confucianism have essential difference in terms of individual and mass, heaven and human. Zhuang Zi puts forward the Equality of Things Theory, that is, all things boil down to one, based on his affirmative judgment of human individualism. He believes that, between the individual and the individual, the species and the species, all things in nature are equal in spite of their distinctiveness and diversity. Confucianism, on the other hand, affirms man's colony and sociality, emphasizing the integration of"man"as the concept of a species and the intercommunity of individual in the whole society. These three concepts are not grouped in the traditional concept that Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi combine to be against Confucianism. Although Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi have utilized the similar method, the academic goal and the objective are entirely different, while Lao Zi and Confucius have the same academic goal in spite of their different methods. Therefore, it can be said that Lao Doctrine is on the side of Confucianism if we compare Laoism, Zhuangism and Confucianism.Zhuang Thoughts, as an individual life theory, is an independent thought theory different essentially from Lao Thoughts. Straightening out this problem is of great significance to the understanding of the traditional Chinese culture as a whole. Lao Doctrine and Confucianism, one rigid the other flexible, presenting argument respectively from Way of Heaven and Way of Human, compose the main ancient Chinese culture. Zhuang Doctrine is complementary to the mainstream, and it is the theory of individual in Chinese ideological and cultural system. As one of human's natural essence, individualism will not die out entirely though it may be weakened. So the main stream culture that emphasizes man's sociality needs a theory of individualism to complement. Zhuang Doctrine is playing the vital role in this aspect. It helps mainstream culture digest and absorb internal separate power and external wallop power to ensure the systemic stabilization very effectively. In regard to interior system, whenever the dynasty moves toward the decline and the collapse, Zhuang Thoughts provides the spiritual refuge shelter and the mind placebo for the average people, which in turn suppresses the newborn thought spark to a certain extent. Regarding the external cultural impact, such as Buddhism, through Zhuang Thoughts'digestion and absorption, its external destructive force is not only resisted, but also leads to the flourish of Chinese Zen everywhere. It can be said that Zhuang Thoughts is the elastic material in Chinese ancient ideological and cultural system because it assures and enhances the stability of the system. This can also partly explain why Chinese ancient thought culture can be continuous for two millenniums and can not be broken through.